Biographies CXLVI: The Waka Poets, Part II

Ki-no-Tsurayuki

¶Ki-no-Tsurayuki (Tsurayuki) was a man whose father, named Mochiyuki, served as a Kurōdo, Chamberlain, and was known for his waka (Note: from "father" onward, up to this point, the account concerns Mochiyuki). Tsurayuki was skilled in calligraphy (Note: following the Ki-shi Keizu), and above all excelled in waka, his art reaching the realm of the marvelous (Note: following the Seian-shō, the Yakumo Mishō, and the Eika Taigai). In the Engi era he became Gosho-dokoro-no-azukari, Custodian of the Palace Library (Note: following the Ki-shi Keizu and the preface to the Kokin Wakashū). Afterwards he held in turn the posts of Echizen-no-gon-no-shōjō, Provisional Junior Secretary of Echizen, Naizen, Palace Table Office, Tenzen, Steward, and Shō-naiki, Junior Secretary of the Palace; he was transferred to Dai-naiki, Senior Secretary of the Palace, was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower, and became Suke, Assistant Governor, of Kaga and Mino. In the Enchō era he was appointed Dai-kenmotsu, Senior Inspector of the Storehouses, and Ukyō-no-suke, Assistant Governor of the Right Capital Office (Note: following the Kasen-den), and became Tosa-no-kami, Governor of Tosa (Note: the Fukuro-zōshi places this in the eighth year of Engi, which is an error). In the Jōhei era, his term ended and he returned to the capital (Note: following the Jikkinshō and the Fukuro-zōshi). In the Tengyō era he became Genba-no-kami, Director of the Bureau of Buddhists and Foreigners, advanced to Junior Fifth Rank Upper, was transferred to Moku-no-gon-no-kami, Provisional Director of the Bureau of Carpentry (Note: following the Kasen-den), and was granted Junior Fourth Rank Lower (Note: following the inscription on the ridgepole preserved at the Ōtake shrine in Hino, Ōmi, dated the eighth year of "Tenkei" [as written in the source]). He died in the ninth year of Tenkyō (946) (Note: following the Kasen-den and the Kokin Wakashū Mokuroku).

¶When Tsurayuki first fell ill, he thought that he would not recover, and sent a poem to Minamoto-no-Kintada. In it he said that this world, as uncertain as moonlight reflected in water scooped up in the hands, where one can scarcely say whether anything exists at all, was nonetheless a world in which he had truly lived. When Tsurayuki died, Kintada composed a poem lamenting him (Note: following the Fukuro-zōshi).

¶Together with Ki-no-Tomonori, Ōshikōchi-no-Mitsune, and Mibu-no-Tadamine, he once received an imperial command to compile the Kokin Wakashū (Note: following the preface to that work, the Tsurayuki Kashū, the Yakumo Mishō, and the Chokusen Shidai). Tsurayuki wrote its preface, which is praised as a discussion of the essentials of waka (Note: following the Eiga Monogatari and the Yakumo Mishō). When the anthology was completed and presented to the throne, one hundred of Tsurayuki's poems were selected for inclusion by special imperial decision (Note: following Kenshō's commentary on the Kokinshū). He also compiled the Man'yōshū Shō in five volumes (Note: following the Yakumo Mishō). Afterwards he received a further command to compile the Shinsen Wakashū, but soon had to go to his post in Tosa; the compilation was completed after his return to the capital, but before it could be presented the emperor died. In its preface Tsurayuki lamented that he had not been in time to present it, and his words are truly sorrowful (Note: following the preface to the Shinsen Wakashū, the Jikkinshō, and the Fukuro-zōshi). A travel account in one volume that he wrote was named the Tosa Nikki and has been handed down to later ages (Note: following the Tosa Nikki).

¶Once, on a journey to Kii, he passed through Izumi at night when the horse he was riding collapsed to the ground and would not go on. While Tsurayuki wondered at this, someone told him: "The god Aritōshi dwells here. Just now you tried to pass without paying respect, and perhaps you have incurred his anger." Tsurayuki was greatly startled, hurriedly dismounted, washed his hands and rinsed his mouth, and composed a poem. In it he asked, under a sky so overcast that not even the pattern of things could be made out, how anyone could think of "Arito-hoshi," the star that is there, or the god Aritōshi. The horse was able to move on at once (Note: following the Tsurayuki Kashū. ○ The Fukuro-zōshi and Minamoto-no-Toshiyori's Mumyōshō differ in the wording of this poem, but they are not noted here in detail. ◎ "Arito-hoshi" is a pun, combining "there is a star" with "Ari-tōshi," the god's name). Tsurayuki's personal collection has been handed down to later ages. When later generations selected the Poetic Immortals, they made Tsurayuki the foremost of the Right and paired him with Kakinomoto-no-Hitomaro (Note: following the Sanjūrokunin-sen and the Fukuro-zōshi). He was called the founder of waka in the world. Such was the esteem in which Tsurayuki was held (Note: following Minamoto-no-Chikafusa's commentary on the Kokinshū).

¶His son Tokifumi excelled in waka and was also skilled in calligraphy. He served as Daizen-no-daibu, Master of the Palace Table Office, and Kura-no-suke, Assistant Director of the Palace Storehouse Bureau, and rose to Junior Fifth Rank Upper. Tsurayuki's daughter served as a Naishi, Handmaid, and was likewise skilled in waka (Note: see the Ki-shi Keizu and the Sakusha Burui). In the reign of Emperor Murakami, the plum tree in the Seiryōden withered, and the emperor sent men to search for a plum tree to be planted in its place. They found one in the Western Capital, but the master of that house wrote a waka and tied it to a branch. In it she said that since this was an imperial command it was most awe-inspiring, but that if the bush warbler should ask where its lodging had gone, what would she answer? The emperor, seeing it, marvelled, sent a man to inquire, and it proved to be the very house of the Naishi. The emperor greatly regretted what he had done (Note: following the Ōkagami; the Shūishū says the tree was in the end not transplanted). She wrote a personal collection, the Kike Rokujō (Note: following the Fukuro-zōshi).

¶Tsurayuki's nephew was Tomonori.

Ki-no-Tomonori

¶Ki-no-Tomonori (Tomonori). Tomonori's father, named Aritomo, was Nai-gon-no-shō, Provisional Junior Assistant Minister of the Palace Ministry (Note: following the Ki-shi Keizu). Tomonori excelled in waka (Note: following the Ki-shi Keizu and the Kasen-den) and was named together with Tsurayuki (Note: following the preface to Nōin's collection, as quoted in Kenshō's commentary on the Kokinshū). In the Kanpyō era, at a poetry contest in the palace, Tomonori took the Left side, and on the topic of the first wild geese composed a poem in which he said that the geese that had departed through the spring mist were now to be heard crying above the autumn mist. When the reader recited the opening phrase "spring mist," the men of the Right laughed at its being out of season, but when he came to the second line, those who had laughed fell silent (Note: following the Kokon Chomonjū and the Jikkinshō. ○ Kenshō's commentary on the Kokinshū records this poem and attributes it to the son of Ōshikōchi-no-Mitsune, but the grounds for this are unclear). Soon afterwards he became Tosa-no-jō, Junior Secretary of Tosa. In the first years of Shōtai he was appointed Shō-naiki, Junior Secretary of the Palace (Note: following the Kasen-den and the Kokin Wakashū Mokuroku). In the first years of Engi he was transferred to Dai-naiki, Senior Secretary of the Palace (Note: following the Kasen-den, the Kokin Wakashū Mokuroku, and the Chokusen Shidai) and was granted Sixth Rank (Note: following the Sakusha Burui). He took part in the compilation of the Kokin Wakashū (Note: following the preface to that work, the Yakumo Mishō, and the Chokusen Shidai). His personal collection has been handed down to later ages.

Ōshikōchi-no-Mitsune

¶Ōshikōchi-no-Mitsune (Mitsune) excelled in waka and was named together with Ki-no-Tsurayuki, Mibu-no-Tadamine, and others (Note: following the Yakumo Mishō). In the Kanpyō era he became Kai-no-shō-sakan, Junior Clerk of Kai (Note: following the preface to the Kokin Wakashū and the Chokusen Shidai; the attribution to the Kanpyō era follows the Kasen-den). Emperor Daigo summoned him to attend at the Gosho-dokoro, the Palace Library (Note: following the Ōkagami). In the Engi era he attended at the Mizushi-dokoro, the Palace Kitchen (Note: following his personal collection). After serving as Tanba-no-gon-no-sakan, Provisional Clerk of Tanba (Note: following the Kasen-den), he became Awaji-no-gon-no-jō, Provisional Secretary of Awaji (Note: following the Sakusha Burui), was transferred to Izumi-no-dai-jō, Senior Secretary of Izumi (Note: following the Kasen-den and the Ōkagami Uragaki), and was granted Sixth Rank (Note: following the Ōkagami Uragaki. ○ The Sakusha Burui says Fifth Rank). He took part in the compilation of the Kokin Wakashū (Note: following the preface to that work, the Yakumo Mishō, and the Chokusen Shidai). The emperor once summoned Mitsune below the steps and asked: "What is the meaning of likening the moon to a bowstring? Compose a poem and answer." Mitsune composed at once, saying that the shining moon is called the "drawn bow" because, like an arrow, it goes in toward the edge of the mountains. The emperor greatly admired and praised it, and bestowed a robe upon him (Note: following the Ōkagami and the Yamato Monogatari). There was a cherry tree at Mitsune's house, and whenever the blossoms were at their fullest, guests thronged the gate. Mitsune, feeling how fickle the feelings of the world are, and thinking that once the flowers had scattered no one would come any more, composed a poem saying that those who came to his house to see the blossoms would, after the petals had fallen, be the ones he would long for. This poem has been told in the world (Note: following the Kokin Wakashū Mokuroku).

Mibu-no-Tadamine

¶Mibu-no-Tadamine (Tadamine) was a son of Yasutsuna, of Junior Fifth Rank Lower (Note: following the Sakusha Burui). He excelled in waka (Note: following the Yakumo Mishō and the Yamato Monogatari). At first he served as a Zuijin, Escort, to Fujiwara-no-Toshikuni, Ukon'e-no-taishō, Major Captain of the Right Imperial Guards. Toshikuni, once drunk, stopped at the residence of Fujiwara-no-Tokihira, Sadaijin, Minister of the Left; as the hour was already late at night, Tokihira wondered at this and questioned him. Tadamine, holding a torch, knelt below the steps and answered with a poem. In it he said that, treading in the depth of night across the frost on the bridge the magpies had laid, he had come for a quite particular purpose. Tokihira was greatly pleased, held a banquet until dawn, and gave Tadamine gifts (Note: following the Yamato Monogatari). He attended at the Gosho-dokoro (Note: following the Ōkagami), and served in turn as Sakon'e-no-banchō, Watch Chief of the Left Imperial Guards (Note: following Minamoto-no-Toshiyori's Mumyōshō), Uemon-no-fushō, Clerk of the Right Gate Guards (Note: following the preface to the Kokin Wakashū and the Sakusha Burui), Mizushi-dokoro-no-azukari, Custodian of the Palace Kitchen, and Settsu-no-dai-sakan, Senior Clerk of Settsu (Note: following the Kokin Wakashū Mokuroku), and was granted Sixth Rank (Note: following the Sakusha Burui). He took part in the compilation of the Kokin Wakashū (Note: following the preface to that work, the Yakumo Mishō, and the Chokusen Shidai). Tadamine once fixed the ten styles of waka (Note: following the Yakumo Mishō, the Seian-shō, and the Ōgi-shō). His personal collection has been handed down to later ages. In the reign of Emperor Gotoba, when a close retainer asked about the finest poems in the Kokinshū, Fujiwara-no-Ietaka and Fujiwara-no-Sadaie both named Tadamine's poem about the dawn, in which he says that since the parting when the moon lingered in the sky at daybreak looked so cold and unfeeling, nothing has seemed so bleak to him as the hour before dawn, and called it the finest in the anthology (Note: following Kakinomoto Yōzai's commentary). His son was Tadami.

Mibu-no-Tadami

¶Mibu-no-Tadami (Tadami). Tadami (Note: "mi" is sometimes written with the other character, "minori") was at first in Settsu; his family had been poor from the beginning, but he was known early for his waka. When Emperor Daigo summoned him, Tadami attended at the Kurōdo-dokoro, the Chamberlains' Office, in coarse clothing, and the emperor gave him a waka of his own composition. In it the emperor said that though he had seen Tadami, he knew nothing of him, and wondered on what night at Naniwa lagoon he had turned back home. Tadami offered a poem in reply, saying that since he had only faintly heard of the pines of Sumiyoshi, the tide that had flowed in had perhaps come and then drawn back. The emperor was considering having Tadami attend at the Mizushi-dokoro, the Palace Kitchen, but had not yet ordered it, when Tadami presented a waka. In it he said that if the high topmost boughs of the cherry would not bend down to him, he would perhaps have to go home, unable to pluck a blossom. The emperor gave a poem in reply, asking whether he would really go home in despair at being unable to pluck one, when the mountain cherries on the bank stood as high as the clouds. Thereupon Tadami received an edict to attend at the Mizushi-dokoro (Note: see the Fukuro-zōshi and the personal collection. ○ These two works differ in the wording of the poems; here the personal collection is followed). In the Tenryaku era he became Jōgaku-no-zenbu, Cook on the Permanent Roll (Note: following the imperial record of the fifth month of the eighth year of Tenryaku (954), as quoted in the Kasen-den). In the first years of Tentoku he became Settsu-no-dai-sakan, Senior Clerk of Settsu (Note: following the Kasen-den. ○ The Sakusha Burui writes "kami, governor" for "dai-sakan, senior clerk," which is an error), and was granted Sixth Rank (Note: following the Sakusha Burui). When a poetry contest was held in the palace, Tadami was matched against Taira-no-Kanemori. Tadami's poem said that his name as one in love had already risen before he knew it, though he had only begun to love in secret, and Tadami was deeply confident of it. Kanemori's poem said that though he hid it, his love had shown in his face, until others asked whether he was brooding over something; both poems were superbly made. Fujiwara-no-Saneyori, Sadaijin, Minister of the Left, served as the judge, but could not decide between them. When the poems came to be recited, the emperor repeatedly murmured Kanemori's poem, and in the end Kanemori was declared the winner. Tadami was greatly crestfallen, and at last died of grief (Note: see the Shasekishū and the Fukuro-zōshi. ○ The Shūi Wakashū treats this as the poetry contest of the Tenryaku era). His personal collection has been handed down to later ages.

Ōnakatomi-no-Yoshinobu

¶Ōnakatomi-no-Yoshinobu (Yoshinobu) was a son of Yorimoto, Saishu, Chief Priest of Ise (Note: following the Ōnakatomi Keizu and the Sakusha Burui). His family had excelled in waka for generations, and with Yoshinobu it became most famous (Note: following the Yakumo Mishō). At first he attended at the Kurōdo-dokoro. In the Tenryaku era, for his services, he became Sanuki-no-gon-no-jō, Provisional Secretary of Sanuki (Note: following the Kasen-den and the Ōnakatomi Keizu). Together with Sakanoue-no-Mochiki, Minamoto-no-Shitagō, Ki-no-Tokifumi, and Kiyohara-no-Motosuke, he compiled the Gosen Wakashū, and the five were called the Five of the Pear Court in the world (Note: following the Fukuro-zōshi, the Yakumo Mishō, and the Chokusen Shidai). In the Tentoku era he became Jingi-no-shō-yū, Junior Secretary of the Department of Deities, and was transferred to Dai-yū, Senior Secretary. In the first years of Anna he was transferred to Shō-fuku, Junior Vice-Director. In the Tenroku era he was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower, was transferred to Dai-fuku, Senior Vice-Director, and became Saishu (Note: the year in which he became Saishu is not clear, so it is placed here for the time being). Afterwards his rank rose until he reached Senior Fourth Rank Lower. He died in the second year of Shōryaku (991) (Note: following the Kasen-den. See the Ōnakatomi Keizu). He was seventy years old (Note: following the Kasen-den).

¶Yoshinobu once composed a poem at the Ne-no-hi, Day of the Rat, banquet of Imperial Prince Atsumi. In it he wished that the pines, said to live a thousand years, might, drawn by his lord from this day onward, pass ten thousand ages. Yoshinobu was deeply confident of it and told Yorimoto. Yorimoto murmured it for a while, then suddenly changed countenance and said in a harsh voice: "If you are ever permitted to ascend to the palace and attend a Ne-no-hi banquet, what words do you mean to use to bless it?" and took up a pillow and threw it at him. Yoshinobu shrank back in fear (Note: see his personal collection, the Fukuro-zōshi, and the Jikkinshō). His son was Sukechika.

Ōnakatomi-no-Sukechika

¶Ōnakatomi-no-Sukechika (Sukechika). Sukechika's style name was Kai. He was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower, succeeded his father as Saishu, and was appointed Jingi-haku, Director of the Department of Deities. In the Kankō era his rank rose to Junior Fourth Rank Upper (Note: following the Chūko Kasen-den). In the seventh year of Chōgen (1034) he went as envoy to Ise. At that time something glowed among the pines of the Shinpōden, the Treasure Hall. When Sukechika searched, he found a jewel of green jasper, and on returning to the capital presented it (Note: following the Fusō Ryakki, the Sakeiki, and the Fukuro-zōshi). The emperor especially praised this and granted him Junior Third Rank. No one of the Ōnakatomi had ever risen to the Third Rank before, and the people of the world regarded it as an honor (Note: following the Sakeiki). In the ninth year of Chōgen (1036) he was granted Senior Third Rank (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). In the second year of Chōryaku (1038), on his way as envoy to Ise, he fell ill and died partway there. He was eighty-five years old (Note: following the Ōnakatomi Keizu and the Chūko Kasen-den; that he was going as envoy to Ise follows the Fukuro-zōshi).

¶Sukechika was skilled in waka, and his residence had a fine setting of pond waters and garden stones. He had it made in imitation of Ama-no-Hashidate, and kept the southern doors unclosed, so that the light of the moon might be invited into the house. The people of the world praised its elegant charm (Note: following the Jikkinshō and the Fukuro-zōshi).

Kiyohara-no-Motosuke

¶Kiyohara-no-Motosuke (Motosuke) was a grandson of Fukayabu, Kura-no-jō, Secretary of the Palace Storehouse Bureau, and a son of Harumitsu, Shimōsa-no-kami, Governor of Shimōsa (Note: following the Kasen-den and the genealogy of the Kiyohara kept in the Funabashi family). His family had excelled in waka for generations, and with Motosuke it became most famous (Note: following the Yakumo Mishō and the Konjaku Monogatari). In the Tenryaku era he became Kawachi-no-gon-no-daijō, Provisional Senior Secretary of Kawachi (Note: following the Kasen-den and the Chokusen Shidai), and together with Ōnakatomi-no-Yoshinobu and others became a Yoryūdo, Member, of the Wakadokoro, the Bureau of Poetry (Note: following the colophon of the Gosen Wakashū). He added readings and punctuation marks to the Man'yōshū (Note: following the Yakumo Mishō and the Fukuro-zōshi), and also compiled the Gosen Wakashū (Note: following the Yakumo Mishō, the Fukuro-zōshi, and the Chokusen Shidai). In the Ōwa and Kōhō eras his rank rose until he became Chū-kenmotsu, Middle Inspector of the Storehouses, and he served in turn as Ōkura-no-shōjō, Junior Secretary of the Treasury Ministry, and Minbu-no-taijō, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Popular Affairs. In the Anna era he was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower, became Kawachi-no-gon-no-kami, Provisional Governor of Kawachi, was transferred to Suō-no-kami, Governor of Suō, and concurrently served as Jusen-no-chōkan, Director of the Mint. In the Tengen era he advanced to Junior Fifth Rank Upper. In the second year of Kanna (986) he was appointed Higo-no-kami, Governor of Higo. He died in the first year of Shōryaku (990). He was eighty-three years old (Note: following the Kasen-den). His personal collection has been handed down to later ages.